can anyone explane to me what "free" cities are?

angrydragon said:

A city that does not pay taxes to the empire and isn't under its protection. Like Marienburg.

They have the right to invoke their own public authority ,taxes, universal draft and court. Rights often earned in long and bloody wars. Cologne, Mayence and Worms are some examples for Free cities in the history of Germany.

Gallows said:

..And the city state of Middenheim?

Good examples about Free Cities are actually Kemperbad and Talabheim.

Middenheim was City-state once, but it is now provincial (Middenland) capital. And old Graf Boris rules both the city and province. And has seat among the Elector Counts.

Marienburg is probably little wrong example. The entire Westerland (now Wasteland) province separated from the Empire, including Marienburg. So, it is independent actually.

jackdays said:

True about Marienburg being completely independent, but it still stands for me as an example of a free city that has gained independence from the empire. It's this independence that makes it a free city... free from the obligations (and benefits) of the Empire.

Gallows said:

I believe free cities like Nuln and Kemperbad are still beholden to the Emperor; they're just considered independent from the province in which they are situated.

Kemperbad is ruled by a town council with no obligations to the Reikland, but they still contribute to the Empire and observe Imperial laws. This arrangement is probably confusing at times since Karl-Franz holds the titles of both Reikland Elector Count and also Emperor.

Similarly, Nuln is technically independent from Wissenland but still provides artillery and gunners to the Empire. Nuln's situation is also complicated because the current ruler Emmanuelle von Liebwitz also happens to be the Elector Count of Wissenland (although it's noted that she would happily hand Wissenland over to Toppenheimer if Nuln gained its own Electoral vote).

Gallows said:

True, true. But should we call "free cities" places that are still part of some country, but with special priviledges (and maybe with some obligations still)? Wasteland & Marienburg is own independent country, so it can really - Well, make its own priviledges now

one complicated thing about Imperial Law is that you don`t have a standarlization of any type. Any Elector Count or ruler can issue a new law for their region, as the Emperor can for the whole of the Empire.

each "free city" has it`s own agreement with the Empire, so each case has it`s specifications.

we could rule a common understanding for the concept of free city, differentiating it from the independent ones. but it would be for our understanding only, someone else can come with a different definition.

so, about Kemperbad, a free city, ruled by it`s Town Council, but still a part of the Empire, paying taxes and respect to the Emperor (but not taxes to Reikland). there must be different taxes as there are differentiation nowadays about federal and regional government payment. at least it`s this way here in Brazil.

Ubersreik, to my understanding, it`s ruled by it`s Town Council, but still pays taxes to Reikland. but I could be wrong about this and then it would just as Kemperbad. the Edge of Night runs around the rumour of the Emperor revoking the Town Council authorization to run the city, and so they would place under some noble care, putting it back to the feudal organization.

Marienburg is not part of the Empire anymore. Nuln is like Middenheim when it were a city-state.

Talabheim is a matter of discusion. if you read Blackhearts novel, Talabheim is described clearly as not paying any taxes to the Empire, nor having to legally answer to any ruleby the Emperor. it would fall under the "independent city" definition, almost as Marienburg. the difference is that Talabheim is inside the region that is the Empire. also, Talabheim is the provincial capital of Talabecland, and Talabecland is part of the Empire. so Talabheim has to the deal with the Emperor rule indirectly. is a very complex and interesting situation, IMO. and the noble that goes there as an Empire Emissor on the novel uses this situation to negociate with Talabheim`s Countess.

Something I wrote some time ago, when discussing the Von jungfreuds in the GMs section.

Freistadt towns, Free towns or chartered Towns

I don't know if this has been adressed so I will try to give a short explanation of what it means. In essence all the names above are the same. What it means is that a Free town, have a charter or rights that free them from most of their feudal obligations in return for favours granted by somenone higher in feudal chain.

Nobles hates this, for it often means lost revenues and prestige, and will often work to undermine a chartered town's priviliges.

When Streissen suffered breat riots in the year of Karl-Franz's accession, the Elector Countess Ludmilla of Averland demanded the surrender of the town charter before she would send in th troops.

even though the noble lord have lost most of his authority in a Free town, he is still listed as the ruler in the Imperical charter. Meaning that he still recieve some token hounour of respect among the town council, and often have a seat in their meetings.

good gaming

it might be worthwile to mention that the original creators of Warhammer designed the Empire arround the Holy Roman Empire or the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. And it bear many similarities, although the "real" empire is much more complex than that of the fantasy version. I've found a link to wikiepedia about free towns that might be of some interest.

I also included a link to the history of the Holy Roman empire, in particular the imperial reformation and the Golden Bull of 1356, should hold some interest for warhammer fans, as that part of the HRE is almost identical to that of the fantasy empire.

good gaming and good reading

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_imperial_city

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Roman_Empire